From 13 July–9 August 2007, 25 ozonesondes were launched from Las Tablas,
Panama as part of the Tropical Composition, Cloud, and Climate Coupling
(TC4) mission. On 5 August, a strong convective cell formed in the Gulf of
Panama. World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) data indicated 563
flashes (09:00–17:00 UTC) in the Gulf. NO<sub>2</sub> data from the Ozone Monitoring
Instrument (OMI) show enhancements, suggesting lightning production of NO<sub>x</sub>.
At 15:05 UTC, an ozonesonde ascended into the southern edge of the now
dissipating convective cell as it moved west across the Azuero Peninsula.
The balloon oscillated from 2.5–5.1 km five times (15:12–17:00 UTC),
providing a unique examination of ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) photochemistry on the edge
of a convective cell. Ozone increased at a rate of ~1.6–4.6 ppbv/hr
between the first and last ascent, resulting cell wide in an increase of
~(2.1–2.5) &times; 10<sup>6</sup> moles of O<sub>3</sub>. This estimate
agrees to within a factor of two of our estimates of photochemical lightning
O<sub>3</sub> production from the WWLLN flashes, from the radar-inferred lightning
flash data, and from the OMI NO<sub>2</sub> data (~1.2, ~1.0, and ~1.7 &times; 10<sup>6</sup> moles, respectively), though all estimates have large
uncertainties. Examination of DC-8 in situ and lidar O<sub>3</sub> data gathered around
the Gulf that day suggests 70–97% of the O<sub>3</sub> change occurred in
2.5–5.1 km layer. A photochemical box model initialized with nearby TC4
aircraft trace gas data suggests these O<sub>3</sub> production rates are possible
with our present understanding of photochemistry.